Defrost water disposal system



Septo 7, 1954 E. HSQHWENMER DEFROST WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed April 7, 1953 Patented Sept. 7, 1954 EnicfHtSchwenken Evansville, Ind., assignerl to International Harvester Company, a"c'orpora,

'lAtp'plicatiDn April 7, 1953,? SeriallNo. 3473333 6 Claims.

.l .This -invention relates generally to` refrigerator defrosting systems-andmorespecically to an improved defrost water disposal `vsysternfor .use in` a refrigerator.

Means are welll i known inthe `art whereby. the defrost water which drips fromthe evaporator of arefrigerator is collectedinto a. drip4 tray, and

`wherein some tubing means are provided for connecting the `tray externally ofthe refrigerator cabinet, whereby the defrost. .water which collects in thefdrip tray isconducted to some disposal means Without the refrigeratorfcabinet. These systems have the disadvantage in thatthe `tubing means'for (drainage. ofthe drip tray often becomes clogged and requires periodical-cleaning,

and often it is very diicult to remove the tubing means for cleaning or to clean thetubing means in place.

Therefore it is an object of this Vinvention to provide a defrost water disposal system wherein the tubing means of thesystern4 is'easily--removable for cleaning thereof and is easily replaceable.

It is a feature of thisinvention that flexible tubing is used with other structures to flfllllthe aforementioned object.

Other objects and'features of the present invention will be apparent upon aperusal vf Ithe following specification and drawings of which:

Figure'l is a side view of a refrigerator cabinet in partial cross sectionzembodying' the. present invention; and

ligure 2 isa cross sectional View of ya. portion of'thestruoture shown in Figure 1 takenialong thelline 2-L2.

The present embodiment is thepreferred embodiment but it` is. tolbe. understood` that .changes canbe madeinthe presentembodirnent byone skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

vl'or a detailedfdescripti'on of the invention ref-- erence is made to the drawing. A refrigerator cabinet I` is shown with a refrigerator 'door II pivotally mounted over'the open sidethereof. The refrigerator cabinet I0 comprises' an`outer liner' I2 and an inner liner I 'di'sposed within the outer'liner' I2 and positioned alcertan" distance therefrom. Insulation I4 is 'disposedbetween the outer liner l2 anid'the'innerliner "I3"'to'com pietely 'll the'spaces therebetween. v"Ilieinrrer linerl |3- defines a"l food storage Ycompartirient I5. Arr evaporator I6f is disposed withinthefood storagecom'partmentl I-5 ini the: upperfportionl thereof The evaporatorV II5,-` as ASwell known :in `vthe art,'fserves torcool' the.'foodstorage-'compartment I r and .tez provide f space i internally'.thereoffl; for maintaining fa smallfamount fof.: food? at.. freezing water disposedwithinfthe water pan 25.

'2 temperatures. 'Ilhelower portionof the refrigeratorY cabinet IfI` is provided/with a machinery compartment Il. `Asis-wellL knownv inthe art, a motor-compressor unit IiiV for. the-operation of the-refrigeratorris positioned `within the machinerycompartment ILand arcondenser (not shown) is alsomounted -in cooperation with the lmachinery vcompartment Il. Further, tubing means (not shown) interconnects the motor-compresser unit' I8, thecondenser (not shown), and

ythe evaporator It for-operationofthe-refriger- *.ator.

After aperiodof operationof the refrigerator,

A'substantial quantities ofl frost will accumulate onthesurfaces of the evaporator I6, whichwill yinterfere with the efficient operation ofthe refrigerator. Any-means'well known in the art forf def-resting thel evaporator I@ may beusedto melt the accumulated frost from the surfaces thereof. When this is done the defrostwater Llwill drip` from'thesurfaces of the evaporator. To

collect. this defrost water, a dripl tray I9 isprovided. The` drip tray I9 is positioned below the vevaporator Iland is-formed'in theshape of v'atray slightly'larger in` area than the evapo- 'rator `I6 to thereby collect any defrost water dripping from-'the sur-faces of the evaporator I6.

'Thefdriptray I9 may be maintainedbelow the evaporator I6 by any means well known inthe lart--suclras a rackV 2G. A. draintube 2I isoprovided throughthe lowersurface of the drip tray ISI-substantiallyatthe rear thereof. Theinner 'lower surfacerof-thedrip4- tray I9 is formed -to slope` in= allv directions towards the drain' tube Thusl it' may easily be seen-.that any defrost fiowth'ereinito and through-the drainftubefl. lTo"conduct-the defrost water externally of the-refrigerator.cabinetzfor easy disposal thereof; al drainage'system is provided. kThisdrainage system comprises a length of-iiexibletubingf22, ailength of rigid=tubing 23, a pair of ridges 24 andafwater panr25. The-water 'pan' 25 isy remov- Iablypositioned within'the machinery compartmentf I1 land-1aportion'thereof projects from: the rear of thelrefrigerator cabinet I', `as canv easily -beaseeniinf'Figure 1. Thev waterfpan'ris removably positioned 'upon la rack 2e over the motor-compressor unit 1I 8, Vwhereby the ywater .pan-25 will absorb heatf from the motor-compresser unit I8 to cause-an evaporation' of `any Also, the-water? pan 25 mayfbe' removed from the rear of the refrigerator cabinet A.lily or may be rremoved from 'the front of the Y refrigerator `cabinet I when the refrigerator door II is opened. Structure other than the rack may be used to removably maintain the water pan 25 within the machinery compartment l1, for instance, the water pan 25 may be formed to have flanges at the sides thereof and these flanges may be positioned within a pair of channels mounted to the upper wall of the machinery compartment l1.

The length of rigid tubing 23 is curved so that when the length of tubing 23 is mounted through the rear wall of the refrigerator cabinet I0 as shown in Figure l, one end of the tubing 23 points in a substantially upward direction and the other end of the length of tubing 23 points in a substantially downward direction. The length of tubing 23 is mounted through the inner liner I3, the insulation I4, and the outer liner l2 as shown in Figure 1. A bracket 21 is attached to the upper end of the length of tubing 23, and the bracket 21 is in turn attached to the inner liner i3 by means of a plurality of fasteners 28 projecting through the bracket 2T and the inner liner I3. The lower end of the length of tubing 23 is maintained in proper alignment by a resilient grommet 29. The resilient grommet 29 is mounted in cooperation with a hole through the outer liner l2 and about a portion of the length of tubing 23 near the lower end thereof, as can easily be seen in Figure l.

Directly below the lower end of the length of tubing 23, a Vertical channel is positioned. This channel is disposed between two vertical ridges 24. The vertical ridges 24 are formed in the outer liner l2 of the refrigerator cabinet Hl by any means well known in the art, such as stamping. These ridges 24 are of a length substantially equal to the distance from the top of the machinery compartment l1 to the lower end of the length of tubing 23.

The length of flexible tubing 22 is formed of any material well known in the art which will render it flexible, such as a plastic material. The length of exible tubing 22 is positioned within the length of rigid tubing 23, and the upper end of the length of tubing 22 is press fitted over the drain tube 2l. The remainder of the length of tubing 22 extends in a downward direction between the ridges 24, and the lower end thereof is positioned above the rear end of the water pan 25 as can easily be seen in Figure 1. The length of tubing 22 has a shoulder 30 formed as an integral part thereof. As can be seen in Figure l, the shoulder of the length of tubing 22 limits the amount of the length of tubing 22 that can be directed downward through the length of rigid tubing 23. Therefore it may be seen that the length of tubing 22 is of such a length that the upper end thereof may be connected to the drain tube 2l and the lower end thereof will be positioned over the Water pan 25 when the shoulder 30 is positioned against the upper end of the` length of rigid tubing 23.

Thus it can be seen that the length of tubing 22 may be easily removed .from the refrigerator cabinet Il] by disconnecting the upper end of the length of tubing 22 from the drain tube 2 I, and by then withdrawing the length of tubing 22 from the length of tubing 23. Once the length of tubing 22 has been removed from the refrigerator I0 it may be easily cleaned and any obstructions or sediments may be removed therefrom. It can further be seen that the length of tubing 22 may be easily repositioned within the refrigerator cabinet l0 by projecting the lower end of the length of tubing 22 through the length of tubing 23 from the interior of the refrigerator cabinet I0 until the shoulder 30 rests against the upper end of the length of tubing 23. As the lower end of the length of tubing 22 is directed through the length of tubing 23 and emerges from the lower end thereof, the pair of ridges 24 will serve to guide the lower end of the length of tubing 22 in a downward direction, properly positioning the lower end of the length of tubing 22 over the rearward portion of the water pan 25. The upper end of the length of tubing 22 can then be connected to the drain tube 2l to complete the mounting of the length of tubing 22 within the refrigerator cabinet IO.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator having a defrostable evaporator positioned within a food storage compartment thereof, means for disposing of the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray positioned within said food storage compartment below said evaporator, a drain tube depending from the lower surface of said driptray, a length of rigid tubing mounted to extend through the rear wall of said refrigerator from the interior thereof in a generally sloping downward direction to the exterior thereof, a water pan removably mounted below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator, a length of exible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing, one end of said length of flexible tubing connected to said drain tube, the other end of said length of flexible tubing positioned over said portion of said water pan extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator.

2. In a refrigerator having a defrostable evaporator positioned within a food storage compartment thereof, means for disposing of the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray positioned within said food storage compartment below said evaporator. a drain tube depending from the lower surface of said drip tray, a length of rigid tubing mounted to extend through the rear wall of said refrigerator from the interior thereof in a generally sloping downward direction to the exterior thereof, a water pan removably mounted below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator, a length of flexible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing, one end of said length of flexible tubing connected to said drain tube, the other end of said length of flexible tubing positioned over said portion of said water pan extending rearwardly of said rear Wall of said refrigerator, apair of spaced apart longitudinal ridges formed on the outer rear wall of said refrigerator, said ridges being positioned on each side of a vertical line from the center of the lower end of said length of rigid tubing, whereby said ridges serve as vertical guides for the portion of said length of flexible tubing depending from the lower end of said length of rigid tubing.

3. In a refrigerator having a defrostable evaporator positioned within a food storage compartment thereof, means for disposing of the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray positioned within said food storage compartment below said evaporator, ',a drain tube depending from the lower surface of vsaid drip tray, a length of rigid tubing positioned to extend through the rear wall of said refrigerator from the food storage compartment thereof in a generally downwardly sloping direction to the exterior thereof, a bracket connected to the portion of said length of rigid tubing within said food storage compartment and further connected to the inner rear wall of said refrigerator, a resilient grommet disposed about the lower end of said length of rigid tubing and connected to the outer rea-r wall of said refrigerator, whereby said length of rigid tubing is secured through the rear wall of said refrigerator, a water pan removably mounted below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal ridges formed on the outer rear wall of said refrigerator, said ridges being positioned on each side of a vertical line from the center of the lower end of said length of rigid tubing, a length of nexible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing and between said longitudinal ridges, one end of said length of flexible tubing connected to said drain tube, the other end of said length of tubing positioned over said portion of said water pan extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator, an annular flange nxedly mounted about said length of exible tubing, said annular flange positioned against the upper end of said length of rigid tubing, whereby said annular nange limits the amount of said length of flexible tubing which is movable through said length of rigid tubing.

4. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet oomprising an outer liner, an inner liner defining a food storage compartment spaced apart from said outer liner, insulation disposed between said liners, a defrostable evaporator positioned within said food storage compartment substantially in the upper portion thereof, means for disposing of the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray positioned within said food storage compartment below said evaporator, a drain tube depending from the lower surface of said drip tray, a length of rigid tubing mounted to extend through said inner liner, said insulation, and said outer liner of the rear wall of said refrigerator cabinet, said length of rigid tubing positioned in a generally downward sloping direction from the inner liner, through said insulation, and through said outer liner, a water pan removably mounted within said refrigerator cabinet below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said outer liner, a length of flexible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing, one end of said length of flexible tubing connected to said drain tube, the other end of said length of flexible tubing positioned over said portion of said water pan extending rearwardly of said outer liner.

5. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet cornprising an outer liner, an inner liner defining a food storage compartment spaced apart from said outer liner, insulation disposed between said liners, a defrostable evaporator positioned within said food storage compartment substantially in the upper portion thereof, means for disposing 0f the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray position within said food storage compartment below said evaporator, a drain tube depending from the lower surface of said drip tray, a length of rigid tubing mounted to extend through the inner liner,

said insulation, and the outer liner of the rear wall of said refrigerator cabinet from said inner liner in a generally sloping downward direction through said outer liner, a length of flexible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing, one end or said length of iexible tubing connected to said drain tube, a water pan removably mounted below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal ridges formed on the outer liner of said rear wall of said refrigerator cabinet, said ridges being positioned on each side of a vertical line from the center of the lower end of said length of rigid tubing, whereby said ridges serve as vertical guides for the portion of said length of flexible tubing depending from the lower end of said length of rigid tubing.

6. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer liner, an inner liner defining a food storage compartment spaced apart from said outer liner, insulation disposed between said liners, a defrostable evaporator positioned within said food storage compartment substantially in the upper portion thereof, means for disposing of the defrost water dripping from said evaporator, said means comprising a drip tray positioned within said food storage compartment below said evaporator, a drain tube depending from the lower surface Of said drip tray, a length of rigid tubing positioned to extend through the inner liner, said insulation, and said outer liner of the rear wall or said refrigerator from the food storage compartment in a generally sloping down- Y ward direction through the outer liner, a bracket connected to the portion of said length of rigid tubing within said food storage compartment and further connected to said inner liner, a resilient grommet disposed about the lower end of said length of rigid tubing and connected to said outer liner, whereby said length of rigid tubing is secured through the rear wall of said refrigerator, a water pan removably mounted below said food storage compartment and having a portion thereof extending rearwardly of said rear wall of said refrigerator, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal ridges formed on said outer liner of said rear wall oi said refrigerator, said ridges being positioned on each side of a vertical line from the center of the lower end of said length of rigid tubing, a length of exible tubing removably positioned through said length of rigid tubing and between said longitudinal ridges, one end of said length of flexible tubing connected to said drain tube, the other end of said length of flexible tubing positioned over said portion of said water pan extending rearwardly of Said rear wall of said refrigerator, and an annular flange xedly mounted about said length of exible tubing, said annular flange positioned against the upper end of said length of rigid tubing, whereby said annular fia-nge limits the amount of said length of flexible tubing which is movable through said length of rigid tubing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

